WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern responded perfectly to the United States President Donald Trump who on Friday condemned the terror attacks on two mosque in New Zealand and extend support necessary.
“My warmest sympathy and best wishes goes out to the people of New Zealand after the horrible massacre in the Mosques. 49 innocent people have so senselessly died, with so many more seriously injured,” Trump tweeted. “The U.S. stands by New Zealand for anything we can do. God bless all!”
My warmest sympathy and best wishes goes out to the people of New Zealand after the horrible massacre in the Mosques. 49 innocent people have so senselessly died, with so many more seriously injured. The U.S. stands by New Zealand for anything we can do. God bless all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2019
Ardern in a moving statement immediately aftermath of the shooting told that US president was among the international leaders who offer the best help he could provide.
“He very much wished for his condolences to be passed on to New Zealand,” Ardern said.
“He asked what offer of support the United States could provide. My message was: ‘Sympathy and love for all Muslim communities,'” Ardern said.
When she was asked how Trump responded, she said, “He acknowledged that and agreed.”
Ardern called the shootings in the city of Christchurch as “one of New Zealand’s darkest days.”
Trump on Saturday morning (NZ time) said that he did not see a rise in white nationalism across the world “a serious growing problem.”
“I don’t really think so. I think it’s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems,” The Hill quoted Trump as saying.
When asked Ardern whether she agrees with the Trump’s comment, she swiftly replied “No”.
Asked whether she agrees with Pres. Trump's comment that he doesn't see white nationalism as a rising global threat, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says, "No." https://t.co/0AXjwFQSUP pic.twitter.com/Z2SqDbYO9C
— ABC News (@ABC) March 15, 2019
Trump in the past banned Muslims from the United States, and claimed that “Islam hates us.”
In the worst ever terror attack in New Zealand, multiple gunmen carried out indiscriminate shootings at two mosques in Christchurch during the Friday prayers, leaving 49 people dead and at least 48 wounded, besides giving a scare to the Bangladesh cricket team which had a narrow escape.
Using automatic weapons, the gunmen, launched a “well-planned” attack on the mosques when devotees had assembled for the weekly prayers.
Earlier, Australian-born suspect, who filmed himself, while carrying out the attack, had posted a lengthy manifesto, expressing anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim views.
He wrote that he supported Trump “as a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose” but not as a “policymaker and leader.”